- Joined
- Jan 9, 2010
- Messages
- 353
Ok it has been officially a year since my last post. I'm still in Love with Octopai, I still want one, and I'm still scared out of my witts.
I bought a 29g Oceanic Biocube last year, that had a mysterious leak that disappeared after I bought a brand new one the next day. I bought the new tank, and when I took down the other it stopped leaking. I looked everywhere for that leak. Strangest thing. They have both been up and running beside one another for over a year. One on each side of my desk. I've have a few corals, rescued fish from friends tanks that got cracked, and even went for a small piece of a reef for a while. The mated pair of maroons I have in the right tank refuse to let anything else in the tank except Nassarius snails. Even me. They go nuts when I go in there to clean or rearrange anything. I had a beautiful BTA in there with them, and thats all they allowed. Mean little Piranah they are.
I also bought a 65g Ovlerflow setup, that I had to tear down myself, but I got a decent deal for $350 bucks. The only problem, is all the maintenence that goes with it. I was hoping for something a little easier to take care of.
It came with the 2 sets of lights on top, tank, wood stand, sump, huge protein skimmer, intake pump, and outtake pump, over $800 worth of LR, 4 inches of sand across the bottom light strips, Koralai power heads, insump heater, cleaner shrimp, Tomato Clown, Dwarf Lionfish, tons of crabs, and a few snails.
The 65 was covered in salt buildup, that took me forever to clean it all up. I salvaged the lights they were completely covered ins altwater. The top of the tank wasn't covered and the lights from being up there so long without being wiped down. The salt just hardened. I'm taking those to Lowe's to get some Plexi Glass cut for both of them, to prevent that from ever happening again. I also had 2 peiceas of Pexiglas cut for the top of the tank. Theres a brown divider in the center, so that you can put a peice on each side.
Now this 65 would be a beautiful setup, but a total brat to clean. The tank is tall not but long. I can't touch the bottom of the tank with my hand even if I'm standing on a foot stool. We sanded the stand completely down and stained it, then varnished it. It doesn't look half bad now. But it had crayon and marker all over it from the man's neice/nephew inside and out. That took me about 2 weeks to complete. I painted the back of the tank Black because it just brings out the colors of the corals and fish so much better I think. I hate the powder blue on the backs of tanks that have such nice coral setups. Just draws the eyes from the beauty in my opinion. Also where the tank was supposed to be it was to block out the light coming in the window and coming throught he back of the tank.
So yea it was definatly worth the $350 paid for it, cleaned up. But since cleaning it, and seeing all the hassle in setting all that up. I have RA , and at some days I can barely get dressed in the mornings. Hence why I need an easy to maintain tank. Not to mention I have no clue how I would even begin to set it up. My son and my husband went with me, and took it apart for me, but taking it apart and putting back together myself is the problem. Son is leaving for the Army in 5 days. Husband doesn't know a thing about how to set one up. Well not of that magnitude anyway.
I have decided to sell it and look into a Red Sea max 250 for later down the road. My dream is the 500, but unless I hit the powerball. NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
Red Sea Max 250
http://www.redseamax.com/redseamax/250Temp/redseamax/index.html
Now for the reason why I'm thinking the 250. More Room, convenience in the setup being easier to clean, and I don't have to take everything apart later to clean it. My Biocubes are pretty easy to clean which is why I'm looking into how to make them work.
The filtration system in this thing is a step up from my Biocubes. Beautiful isn't it?http://www.redseamax.com/redseamax/250Temp/redseamax/Red_Sea_MAX_specs250.html
I only want a pygmy Octopai, a Merc or 2, or something just as small.
I've been told my 29's would do fine. I have even bought a SR3 protein skimmer, and a canister filter for the left tank which is the newer one. To try and get it as close to being as superior to the 130D as much as possible.
Red Sea max 130D
http://www.redseamax.com/redseamax/250Temp/redseamax/Red_Sea_MAX_HP_130D.html
But then I come across the same problem I'm having now. I NEED TO BABY PROOF THE TANK.
So I'm going to practice with the 29's and then if all goes well in another year. Mamma's gonna have a brand new bag!
I started up a few albums, just threw some photos in to get the albums started. They will be much more detailed later down the road.
I bought a 29g Oceanic Biocube last year, that had a mysterious leak that disappeared after I bought a brand new one the next day. I bought the new tank, and when I took down the other it stopped leaking. I looked everywhere for that leak. Strangest thing. They have both been up and running beside one another for over a year. One on each side of my desk. I've have a few corals, rescued fish from friends tanks that got cracked, and even went for a small piece of a reef for a while. The mated pair of maroons I have in the right tank refuse to let anything else in the tank except Nassarius snails. Even me. They go nuts when I go in there to clean or rearrange anything. I had a beautiful BTA in there with them, and thats all they allowed. Mean little Piranah they are.
I also bought a 65g Ovlerflow setup, that I had to tear down myself, but I got a decent deal for $350 bucks. The only problem, is all the maintenence that goes with it. I was hoping for something a little easier to take care of.
It came with the 2 sets of lights on top, tank, wood stand, sump, huge protein skimmer, intake pump, and outtake pump, over $800 worth of LR, 4 inches of sand across the bottom light strips, Koralai power heads, insump heater, cleaner shrimp, Tomato Clown, Dwarf Lionfish, tons of crabs, and a few snails.
The 65 was covered in salt buildup, that took me forever to clean it all up. I salvaged the lights they were completely covered ins altwater. The top of the tank wasn't covered and the lights from being up there so long without being wiped down. The salt just hardened. I'm taking those to Lowe's to get some Plexi Glass cut for both of them, to prevent that from ever happening again. I also had 2 peiceas of Pexiglas cut for the top of the tank. Theres a brown divider in the center, so that you can put a peice on each side.
Now this 65 would be a beautiful setup, but a total brat to clean. The tank is tall not but long. I can't touch the bottom of the tank with my hand even if I'm standing on a foot stool. We sanded the stand completely down and stained it, then varnished it. It doesn't look half bad now. But it had crayon and marker all over it from the man's neice/nephew inside and out. That took me about 2 weeks to complete. I painted the back of the tank Black because it just brings out the colors of the corals and fish so much better I think. I hate the powder blue on the backs of tanks that have such nice coral setups. Just draws the eyes from the beauty in my opinion. Also where the tank was supposed to be it was to block out the light coming in the window and coming throught he back of the tank.
So yea it was definatly worth the $350 paid for it, cleaned up. But since cleaning it, and seeing all the hassle in setting all that up. I have RA , and at some days I can barely get dressed in the mornings. Hence why I need an easy to maintain tank. Not to mention I have no clue how I would even begin to set it up. My son and my husband went with me, and took it apart for me, but taking it apart and putting back together myself is the problem. Son is leaving for the Army in 5 days. Husband doesn't know a thing about how to set one up. Well not of that magnitude anyway.
I have decided to sell it and look into a Red Sea max 250 for later down the road. My dream is the 500, but unless I hit the powerball. NOT GONNA HAPPEN!
Red Sea Max 250
http://www.redseamax.com/redseamax/250Temp/redseamax/index.html
Now for the reason why I'm thinking the 250. More Room, convenience in the setup being easier to clean, and I don't have to take everything apart later to clean it. My Biocubes are pretty easy to clean which is why I'm looking into how to make them work.
The filtration system in this thing is a step up from my Biocubes. Beautiful isn't it?http://www.redseamax.com/redseamax/250Temp/redseamax/Red_Sea_MAX_specs250.html
I only want a pygmy Octopai, a Merc or 2, or something just as small.
I've been told my 29's would do fine. I have even bought a SR3 protein skimmer, and a canister filter for the left tank which is the newer one. To try and get it as close to being as superior to the 130D as much as possible.
Red Sea max 130D
http://www.redseamax.com/redseamax/250Temp/redseamax/Red_Sea_MAX_HP_130D.html
But then I come across the same problem I'm having now. I NEED TO BABY PROOF THE TANK.
So I'm going to practice with the 29's and then if all goes well in another year. Mamma's gonna have a brand new bag!
I started up a few albums, just threw some photos in to get the albums started. They will be much more detailed later down the road.